Free

Chapter 51

FIFTY-ONE

Nick

The sun is just beginning to set, painting the sky with streaks of gold, orange, and pink. The ocean shimmers like liquid fire, each wave catching the light and throwing it back toward the heavens. I’ve always loved this time of day, when the world feels suspended between light and dark, like anything is possible.

Tonight, it feels even more so.

Sunshine trots ahead of us on the beach, her tail wagging as she chases the occasional seagull or investigates a piece of driftwood. Charlie walks beside me, her hand resting lightly in mine, her curls catching the sunlight like a halo.

“Okay, spill,” she says, her voice teasing. “You’ve been fidgety all day. What’s up?”

“Me? Fidgety?” I say, attempting nonchalance.

“Yes, you,” she says with a laugh. “You keep clearing your throat, or running your hand through your hair, and you’ve checked your watch at least three times since we left the house. What’s going on?”

I glance at her, my heart swelling at the sight of her easy smile. She has no idea what’s coming, and for once, I’m glad I’ve managed to keep a secret from her.

“I just thought we could use a little time to ourselves,” I say, leading her toward the rocky outcrop she fell in love with shortly after moving in with me. We’ve had some of our most important conversations here. We’ve laughed and argued and shared more sunsets than I can count.

When we reach the rocks, I spread out the blanket I’d tucked under my arm, motioning for her to sit. Sunshine flops down beside her, her tongue lolling happily as Charlie scratches behind her ears.

“This is nice,” Charlie says, leaning back on her hands and gazing out at the water. “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this view.”

“Me neither,” I say, though my eyes aren’t on the horizon.

They’re on her.

We sit in companionable silence for a while, the waves providing a soothing soundtrack. But my heart is pounding in my chest, and I know I can’t wait much longer. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the small velvet box that’s been burning a hole there all day.

“Charlie,” I say, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside me.

She turns to me, her eyes soft and questioning. “Yeah?”

I shift to kneel in front of her, holding the box in my hand. Her breath catches, her hand flying to her mouth as her eyes widen.

“I’ve been thinking about this moment for weeks,” I begin, the words flowing out of me like they’ve been waiting their whole life to be said. “About what I’d say, how I’d do it, whether it’d be fancy or simple or somewhere in between. But the truth is, none of that matters. What matters is you.”

Tears glisten in her eyes, and I take her hand, holding it tightly as I continue.

“Charlie, you’ve changed my life in ways I never thought possible. You’ve shown me what it means to be loved—really loved—for who I am, scars and all. You make me want to be the best version of myself, not just for you, but for me, too. And every day with you is better than the last.”

I take a deep breath, my voice thick with emotion. “I don’t want to spend another day without you by my side. I don’t want to chase sunsets or throw sticks for Sunshine or even make cheesy jokes unless you’re there to roll your eyes at me. You’re my heart, my home, my everything.”

I open the box, revealing the simple but elegant diamond ring nestled inside. The setting catches the fading light, sparkling like the ocean behind us.

“Charlie Cooper, will you marry me?”

For a moment, she doesn’t say anything, her tears spilling over as she nods furiously. “Yes,” she finally whispers, her voice trembling. “Yes, Nick. With all my heart, yes.”

Relief and joy crash over me like a wave, and I slip the ring onto her finger, my hands shaking slightly. She throws her arms around my neck, pulling me into a kiss that’s full of love and promise and everything I’ve ever wanted.

Sunshine barks, as if sensing the moment, and we laugh against each other’s lips, breaking the kiss to look down at her.

“She approves,” Charlie says, her voice full of happiness.

“Of course she does,” I reply, grinning. “She’s got good taste.”

We sit back on the blanket, her head resting on my shoulder, her fingers playing with the ring on her hand. The sun dips lower on the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over everything, and I can’t help but think that this is exactly where I’m meant to be.

With her.

Always.